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In an opinion piece, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. argues that the United States should commit to bold steps that not only address the current crisis in the Gulf Coast, but catapult the nation toward a future where the Unites States is less dependent on harmful energy sources.

Gulf crisis represents an opportunity

As I listened to President Barack Obama last night, I was heartened to hear him say that there are efforts that should capture up to 90 percent of the oil leaking out of the well. This is until the company finishes drilling a relief well later in the summer that is expected to stop the leak completely.?

I also like that he wants to make a commitment to the Gulf Coast that goes beyond responding to the crisis of the moment.?

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But the president's words could not quiet a question ringing in my ears for the past two weeks: "Who is going to tell the birds not to fly south this year?"

My daughter, Jessica, age 10, asked this while we watched the coverage of the BP oil disaster in the Gulf.

I didn't have an answer for her. No one does.

How do I tell Jessica — or any child — that we have not been good stewards of the home we all share: Mother Earth? Shall I say, "The Earth is alive, we poked a hole in it and now it's bleeding?"

How do I tell her that she may be a parent herself by the time some of the Gulf's oil-soaked beaches start to return to normal, if we're blessed?

How do we, as leaders of this nation, respond to this crisis in a way that makes our children proud?

That question I can answer.

We can view this crisis as a challenge that can be transformed into an opportunity.

With this attitude, we will stop the piecemeal approach we've taken to responsible environmental stewardship since the 1940s.

Today, we can commit to bold steps that not only address the current crisis, but catapult us into a future where the Unites States is less dependent on energy sources that are literally killing us and the planet we call home.

For example, we can sign onto global initiatives aimed at protecting the environment. No more of the type of resistance we saw to the Kyoto Protocol, or dismissal of the Earth Charter.

We can support legislation put forth by Sens. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) that makes sure oil companies pay for all costs associated with a spill.

We can throw our weight behind "smart growth" and other development concepts that take cars off roads, improve the fuel efficiency of vehicles that remain and require energy efficiency on all new construction.

These ideas can help create jobs — now and into the future. Even in the Gulf States most severely affected by the BP oil disaster, one big reason why people there want drilling to continue is because of the oil industry's positive economic impact on the region.